Can I access my super at 60 and still work?
Are you keen to access your super savings at 60 and continue to work?
02 Oct 2025
Are you keen to access your super savings at 60 and continue to work?
Can I access my super at 60 and still work?
One of the easiest ways to access your super and stay working after 60 is to set up a transition to retirement (TTR) strategy. However, if you want to take a break from working, access your super and return to the workforce at a later date, that may also be an option.
Once you reach the age of 60, you need to meet at least one additional condition of release to access your super. One of these conditions is that you cease an employment arrangement, at which point you can withdraw your super as a lump sum or set up an income stream.
When you access your super this way, you can start working again at any point without restriction. Before you access your super this way, it may be worth talking to a financial advisor or your super fund to see what other options are available to you. You may also want to consider the implication working will have on your pension entitlement.
Can I still earn super if I access my existing super and start a new job?
If you take up a new job after accessing your super, your new employer will still need to pay into your super in line with the Superannuation Guarantee. However, you will not be able to access any of that new accumulated super until you meet a new condition of release, likely by leaving that job..
If you’ve only accessed part of your super, you may be able to have your new employer pay your super contribution into your existing super fund, just make sure your employer has the details of your existing super fund. There is no obligation on you to start up a new super account, so typically you stay with the super account you already have.
Can I get earlier access to my super with a transition to retirement?
Another way to get access to your super and continue to do some paid work is with a transition to retirement (TTR) strategy. The ATO says that this allows you to reduce your hours of work and top up your part-time earnings with money from a regular ‘income stream’ from your super.
The TTR rules are slightly different from the early access situation described above, as the ATO says you can’t take any super money as a lump sum. But your employer will still be making contributions to your super, based on your reduced earnings.
Before getting early access to super at 60, it’s a good idea to seek some independent financial advice, and talk to your super fund to see what options are available. In particular, you might want to see if there are any tax implications from accessing your super and doing any paid work, especially if you are in a relationship.
This article was reviewed by our Senior Finance Writer Mark Bristow before it was updated, as part of our fact-checking process.
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